How to get rid of the smell of smoke

Smoke & cigarette smell can linger, but it's easier to get rid of than you think! Read on to discover top tips for removing the smell of smoke.

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Many of us have pledged (successfully or not) to ditch cigarettes this year – either by keeping up with a New Year’s resolution, making a temporary sacrifice for Lent, or as part of a new warm-weather health initiative. But while cigarettes can be tough to say goodbye to, so is the smell of smoke they’ve left behind in your house. But whether you’re saying goodbye to smoking permanently, or just fancy freshening up, there’s no better time get rid of smoke smell and air out your home than when the sun is out and your windows can stay open.

If you’ve been trying to shift smoke smell from a room without success, don’t worry: there is light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve collated an array of solutions to show you how to get rid of smoke smell (whether from cigarettes or from cooking) in a matter of minutes, whatever the time of year.

3 Tips on How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell Before it Settles

Our first three tips run through the easiest way to keep from smelling smoke in a room: by preventing the odour from developing. If you have no particular desire to quit smoking, these pain-free and cost-free tips are the first steps to preventing cigarette smell from building up in a room.

Avoid smoking indoors at all costs. When it is rainy or windy, it can be hard to bring yourself to step outside. If you can’t take the plunge, smoke near an external window, as this will help the smoke to drift out of the room.

Ventilate your room after smoking. Create a draft running through the room to allow fresh air in after you smoke.

Clean out ashtrays regularly. Removing ash and cigarette butts from your ashtrays on a regular basis prevents them from acting as a particularly nasty kind of smoke-smell potpourri.

As mentioned before, these solutions are hassle-free, banishing the smell of smoke swiftly.

7 Tips on How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a Room Completely

If the smell of smoke is still lingering in your home and on your furniture, there’s no need to panic – after a long period of smoking indoors, or after food is burnt, it can take a while to dissipate. There are many other strategies to give the smell that final push out of your home forever. Here are our top 7 ways to get rid of smoke smell:

Use an odour eliminator. Rather than covering up the smell, these products can help remove it entirely, and are particularly good for blitzing furniture. Always ventilate the affected area before and after to get the best results, and read the instructions on the label.

Install an air purifier. Air purifiers help remove contaminants from the air. These devices are an excellent way to keep you from smelling smoke constantly, and they also help shift dust and dirt. Make sure that you follow any directions in the owner’s manual.

Clean your carpets. Carpets tend to absorb odour, making this method one to keep in mind when you’re considering how to get rid of smoke smells in a carpeted room. You can either opt for commercial carpet cleaners that you can use yourself, or choose a professional cleaning service for a slightly higher price. Make sure that you follow any directions in the owner’s manual.

Clean any glass and mirrors. Glass and mirrors actually attract a great amount of cigarette smoke. Wash the surfaces with vinegar, and then follow up by rinsing them down with water. You are advised to test a small, inconspicuous area first. You can also use a glass cleaner – just follow the instructions on the label and test a small area first.

Wash any fabric in the room. Smoke lingering in fabric, whether it be a curtain or a sofa cover, can be extremely off-putting and even rather nauseating to come into contact with. Washing these either by hand or in the washing machine is a great way to eliminate the smell of smoke, substantially reducing the presence of lingering ash or particles causing the odour. Remember to check the label of any fabric item for washing advice – many, but not all, fabrics are machine washable.

Charcoal is an affordable option for removing smoke smells in your home. You can either lay them out on a steady surface around your home or hang them up in pouches to attract the smell of smoke.

Re-upholster furniture. If you’re not planning on smoking inside again, and have a little extra cash to splash, re-upholstering your furniture will automatically get rid of smoky smells caught in the fabric.

Now you know how to get rid of the smell of smoke, it should be easy to freshen up your home this season. Give it a try!

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Key Steps:

1) Take preventative measures to stop smoke from settling in your home, for example:

Clean out ash trays regularly.

2) Don’t worry if you still have a lingering smoke smell in your home, there are different strategies you can use to tackle the problem, for example:

Deep clean your carpets as they tend to absorb smoke smells – steam cleaners are great for doing this yourself instead of hiring a professional cleaning service.